Why we celebrate the King's birthday in June

Today we honour King Charles III of England, but more importantly, we celebrate his birthday.

For more than 70 years, the first Monday of June has always marked the Queen’s Birthday.

That was until Charles’ mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on 8 September 2022.

King Charles is also head of the Commonwealth including 89 independent countries, and small states in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific including New Zealand.

While today's holiday recognises the new monarch, the rules are the same. As practised during the Queen's Birthday, the day is a non-working one.

So, if you’re rostered to work today, you are entitled to time-and-a-half pay and an alternative day off.

PMN News takes a look at what’s open, what’s not, surcharges, and why we celebrate the King’s birthday in June.

King Charles III was born on 14 November 1948. He will turn 76 later this year.

So, why is New Zealand marking his birthday in June?

He gets to celebrate his birthday twice every year as it was for his late mother whose real birthday was on 21 April.

The reason for this and for many people, it’s confusing. It's the winter weather in Britain.

Traditionally, the British monarchs who were not born in the summer get to celebrate their birthdays twice - once on their real date of birth, and later during the British summer.

King George II started this tradition in 1748. He had a November birthday, and at the time announced that it was too cold to hold the public grand parade.

Back in Aotearoa, many of us welcome the holiday - a day away from school, work, and other activities.

It’s also a day some Kiwis like to do the usual things they do such as eating out, shopping, and visiting friends and family.

Trading restrictions don't apply to the King's Birthday public holiday as they would for Christmas, Easter, or the first half of Anzac Day.

Hospitality and retail venues, cafes, restaurants, and stores will be open as per their usual hours, but they also have the option to shut their business for the public holiday. It’s good to check their opening hours before leaving home.

Supermarkets and malls remain open, but shorter hours for some.

Businesses look at public holidays as an expensive day and the King's Birthday is no different.

However, expect to find an additional 15 per cent surcharge for their services such as those in the hospitality business. This is because employers need to pay their staff who work on the public holiday time-and-a-half.

Also, if you get surcharged by a business, ensure that it has clear signage communicating this to customers in the store, on its website, or by informing customers.

If you feel that you have been misled about a surcharge, you can complain to the Commerce Commission.

Following on from the golden weather spell on the weekend after a week of storms, today will see the clouds clearing and becoming fine in the afternoon. Expect south-westerlies, Metservice said.